Oscillating and gyrating stir stick for an ice container

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator is provided that includes an ice making system, that generally includes an ice maker for making ice, and an ice container for holding the formed ice. The ice making system may be positioned anywhere within the refrigerator, and it may be a modular ice system. The shape of the ice container limits the amount of useable space taken up by the system. The ice container includes a stir stick positioned within the ice container. The stir stick is configured to rotate and oscillate in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick to provide movement of the stir stick into the full area of the ice container. The rotation and oscillation of the stir stick prevents ice from melting and clumping in the corners of the ice container, while also aiding in directing the ice towards a dispensing aperture of the ice container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of refrigerators.More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to anapparatus for preventing ice clumps and breaking up formed ice clumps inan ice container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice makers may be included with refrigerators, or may be stand-aloneunits. In general, the ice maker includes a water source, a coolingsource, a mold, and an ejecting mechanism. Water is added to the mold,and the cooling source removes heat from the water to lower thetemperature below freezing, at which time ice cubes are formed. Once thecubes have formed, the ejecting mechanism operates to remove or ejectthe formed cubes from the molds, at which point new water can be addedand the process repeated.

The ejected ice cubes are generally directed towards an ice container orice storage bin. In refrigerators and in stand-alone units, the icecontainer is located generally adjacent the ice maker so that the formedice cubes do not have to travel a long distance from the ice maker.Furthermore, the cooled air of the cooling source may be used to directcold air to the ice container to keep the ice cubes in the ice containerbelow freezing to prevent the cubes from melting.

In a refrigerator, the ice maker and ice container may be positioned onthe inside of a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door,with the ice maker generally positioned above the ice container suchthat gravity causes the formed ice cubes to fall from the ice maker tothe ice container. The cooling source in a refrigerator may be cold airthat is directed from the freezer compartment to the ice maker. Thebelow-freezing air from the freezer removes enough heat to freeze thewater in the ice molds. The same air may also be passed into the icecontainer to prevent the cubes from melting.

However, as the amount of cubes accumulate in the ice container, itbecomes more difficult to ensure that all of the cubes are at atemperature to prevent melting. If air is passed into the container, itmay not reach cubes that are located below other cubes. Warm air mayalso be introduced to the ice container if a door is opened or the icecontainer is opened to retrieve ice from the container. In any sense,the cubes in the container may experience some melting and refreezing.The melting and refreezing of the cubes can cause multiple cubes tofreeze together, forming ice clumps. The ice clumps are too large to fitthrough a dispenser opening, and therefore, it is important to providemeans to prevent clumping, or to break up the clumps.

Stir sticks have been added to ice containers to aid in preventing andbreaking up ice clumps. The stir sticks are configured to rotate withinan ice container to move the cubes and to direct the cubes towards adispensing area. However, the size and shape of ice containers do notmake it feasible for the stir sticks to reach the full area within thecontainers. Therefore, there are areas within the container that stillinclude conditions that allow the formation of ice clumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes thedeficiencies in the art.

It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present inventionto provide an apparatus and method of preventing the formation of iceclumps in an ice container.

It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and method for breaking up ice clumpsthat have formed in an ice container.

It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that includes a stir stick thatoscillates while rotating in an ice container.

It is a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that provides a stir stick that isable to extend into the full area of an ice container.

It is still a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an ice making system including a stir stick thatincludes bends and that is connected to a cam to oscillate and rotate.

It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present inventionto provide an apparatus that allows for different configurations of icecontainers to be used.

These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The presentinvention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features andadvantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object,feature, or advantage.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator isprovided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door for providingaccess to within the cabinet. An ice maker is operably connected to thecabinet. An ice container is positioned adjacent the ice maker. A stirstick is positioned within the ice maker, and is configured to oscillatewhile rotating in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of the stir stick.

According to another aspect of the invention, an ice making system isprovided. The ice making system includes an ice maker. An ice containeris located adjacent the ice maker and comprises first, second, third,and fourth walls. A stir stick is positioned within the ice containerand is configured to oscillate while rotating in a direction generallyperpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method ofbreaking ice clumps and preventing freeze-up of ice in an ice containeris provided. The method includes providing an ice container including astir stick operably connected to the ice container. The stir stickextends within the ice container and comprises a plurality of bendsalong its length. The stir stick is rotated within the ice container,while also oscillating or gyrating while rotating to extend the bends ofthe stir stick to reach the full area within the ice container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with therefrigerator doors open and showing an ice maker and ice container.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of an ice container according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ice container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the ice container of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator 10. Thebottom mount refrigerator 10 includes a cabinet 12 encapsulating thecompartments of the refrigerator 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the uppercompartment is a refrigerator or fresh food compartment 14. First andsecond doors 16, 17 provide access to the interior of the refrigeratorcompartment 16. A dispenser 22 is positioned on one of the doors 17 ofthe refrigerator compartment 16. The dispenser 22 may be a waterdispenser, ice dispenser, other beverage dispenser, or some combinationthereof. Furthermore, the dispenser 22 may be placed on any door 16, 17,20 of the refrigerator 10, or the dispenser 22 may be placed within oneof the compartments of the refrigerator 10. For example, the dispenser22 may be placed at one of the interior walls of the refrigeratorcompartment 16, thus being part of the cabinet 12. The placement of thedispenser 22 is not to limit the present invention. Positioned generallybelow the refrigerator compartments 14 is a freezer compartment 18. Afreezer door 20 provides access to the freezer compartment 18. Thefreezer door 20 of FIG. 1 is shown as a drawer-type door. However, thepresent invention contemplates that the freezer door 20 may be a draweror hinge door for providing access to the interior of the freezercompartment 18.

It should also be appreciated, that while FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bottommount style refrigerator 10, the present invention contemplates that anystyle of refrigerator be included as part of the invention. The figuresmerely depict one example of a type of refrigerator that can be usedwith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom mount refrigerator 10 of FIG.1 having the refrigerator door 17 opened and the refrigerator door 16removed to show an interior of the refrigerator 10. In addition, thefreezer door 20 is shown to be a drawer that can be slid open to provideaccess to the freezer compartment 18. FIG. 2 shows an ice making system24, which is operably connected to a dispenser 22 of the refrigerator10. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice making system 24 is positioned on theinside of the refrigerator door 17. However, as mentioned aboveregarding the dispenser 22, the ice making system 24 can be positionedgenerally anywhere with respect to the refrigerator 10. For example, theice making system can be positioned in or at an upper portion of therefrigerator compartment 14, on a side wall of the refrigeratorcompartment 14, or even possibly in the freezer compartment 18. Thelocation of the ice making system 24 is not to be limiting to thepresent invention.

The ice making system 24 shown in FIG. 2 includes an ice maker 26 and anice container 28. The ice maker 26 can be any style or configuration ofice maker that produces ice cubes (not shown). The ice container 28 isoperably connected to the ice maker 26 such that ice cubes made in theice maker 26 are dispensed or directed into the ice container 28. Thesize of the ice container 28 should be sufficient enough to contain orhold an amount of ice sufficient for a user or owner. Furthermore, itshould be contemplated that both the ice maker 26 and the ice container28 may be removed from the refrigerator 10. Thus, the present inventioncontemplates that the ice making system 24 be a modular ice makingsystem. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that only the icecontainer 28 may be removable from the refrigerator 10. Also shown inFIG. 2, the ice container 28 generally includes an upper portion 30 anda lower portion 32. The portions will be discussed in greater detailbelow. However, the upper and lower portions 30, 32 of the ice container28 generally are constructed such that they comprise a single unit, andare not removed separately when the ice container is removed from therefrigerator 10.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of an ice container 28 according tothe present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the ice container 28 isgenerally a rectangular-shaped container. The rectangular shape of theice container 28 of the present invention allows for a slimmer icecontainer 28 that will take up less useable space within therefrigerator 10. However, the present invention contemplates that theice container 28 comprises generally any shape, including but notlimited to oval shapes or any other geometrical shape that may allow forthe ice container to hold a predetermined amount of ice, while taking upthe least amount of space as possible within the refrigerator. Inaddition, the shape of the lower or bottom portion 32 of the icecontainer 28 may be the same or different than the shape of the upperportion 30 of the ice container 28. However, the upper and lowerportions 30, 32 should be connectable in some manner.

Positioned within the ice container and generally near the center of theice container is a stir stick 34. The stir stick is a rod-shaped memberthat can be rotated to move or displace the ice within the ice container28. The movement of the ice cubes in the ice container 28 aids inpreventing the ice cubes from melting or clumping, while also providingor aiding movement of the cubes towards an aperture 42 in the container28 that dispenses the ice cubes from the ice container into a cup orother container. The stir stick 34 includes one or more bent portions 36along the length of the stir stick. The bent portion provides greaterarea of the stir stick 34 as it rotates in the ice container 28.Furthermore, the stir stick 34 includes a generally vertical portion atthe bottom 38 of the stir stick for extending into the bottom portion 32of the ice container 28 and connecting to a motor 56. The motor may beany type of motor that can attach to the stir stick to provide rotationof the stir stick within the ice container 28.

The upper portion 30 of the ice container 28, as shown in FIG. 3,includes a first wall 44, second wall 46, third wall 48, fourth wall 50,and a bottom floor or wall 52, with corners 54 formed at theintersections of the walls. The bottom wall 52 may actually be part ofthe bottom or lower member 32 of the ice container 28. The bottom wall52 includes the aperture 42 for dispensing the ice, and therefore, mayinclude a crusher or crushing mechanism 40 positioned therein. As notedabove, the bottom 38 of the stir stick 34 may extend through theaperture 42 as well to connect to the motor or other rotating means.While the stir stick is shown to be positioned generally in the centerof the bottom wall 52, it should be appreciated that the stir stick canbe positioned anywhere in the bottom wall to provide for the greatestamount of reach of the bent portions 36 of the stir stick 34.

While the stir stick 34 is configured to rotate, rotation alone may notallow for the bent portions 36 of the stir stick 34 to reach into thecorners 54 of the ice container 28. Therefore, the ice at this locationmay begin to melt and/or clump together. Thus, the present inventioncontemplates that the stir stick 34 may oscillate or gyrate in thedirection generally shown by the arrow 64 as well as or at the same timeas rotating as shown in the direction of the arrow 66 of FIG. 3. Thegyration of the stir stick 34 is generally in a direction that isperpendicular to the rotational movement of the stir stick within theice container 38. Thus, the combined rotating and oscillating of thestir stick will allow the bent portion 36 of the stir stick to reachinto the full area within the container 28, including the corners 54.

The reach of the stir stick 34 into a corner 54 of the ice container 28is shown in FIG. 4, which is a top view of the ice container 28 of thepresent invention. While the stir stick 34 includes an axis 62, therotation of the stir stick is generally about said axis 62. However, thepresent invention contemplates the inclusion or the use of one or morecams 60, as shown in FIG. 4. The cams provide for the oscillation orgyration of the stir stick 34 while the stir stick is rotating aboutsaid axis 62 to add another dimensional movement of the stick. Themovement may be said to be linear, as opposed to the rotationalmovement. One or more cams 60 may be positioned at the motor shaft 58 orthe bottom 38 of the stir stick 34. The present invention alsocontemplates the use of multiple cams 60 with the multiple camspositioned all at the motor shaft, all at the stir stick, or somecombination thereof at the motor shaft and stir stick to provide theappropriate gyration or oscillation (linear movement) of the stir stick34 to reach into the corners 54 of the ice container 28.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ice container includes a cam 60 attached to themotor shaft 58 of the motor 56. The cam has a motor shaft aperture 63 atthe center of the cam 60, and a stir stick aperture 61 positionedoutwardly from the central aperture. The stir stick aperture 61 allowsthe stir stick to attach to the cam 60. The rotation of the motor shaft58 by the motor 56 will also rotate the cam 60. The rotation of the camwill cause the stir stick to rotate as well. A set of gears may bepositioned also connected to the motor shaft 56 with the gears connectedto the motor shaft and operatively connected to the bottom of the stirstick. The rotation of the motor shaft could cause the gears to rotate,which will provide the rotational movement as shown by the arrow 66 ofthe stir stick 34. However, as the motor shaft 56 is also rotating thecam, the cam will cause the stir stick to gyrate or oscillate as thestir stick is rotating. This is the direction shown by the arrow 64 inFIG. 3. Thus, the stir stick 34 will be both rotating about its axis 62while also gyrating in a direction perpendicular to the rotation andaccording to the shape of the cam 60 and location of the stir stickaperture 61 in the cam 60. Thus, the multiple sources of movement forthe stir stick will cause rotation and gyrating of the stir stick toallow the bends of the stir stick to reach into the full areas of theice container 28, thus preventing clumps of ice from melting together.The movement of the stir stick will also aid in directing ice from thefull area of the ice container to the dispensing aperture in the bottomwall 52 of the ice container.

As described, the assembly may include multiple gears to aid in therotation and gyration of the stir stick 34. A gear can be placed orattached to the motor shaft 58. A second gear can be attached at thebottom 38 of the stir stick 34, with the teeth of the gears incommunication with one another. As the motor 56 rotates its shaft 58,the rotation of the first gear will provide rotation to the second gear,which will in turn rotate the stir stick 34. As the stir stick 34 and/ormotor shaft 58 may also be connected to a cam 60, the motor shaft 58rotation will also cause the stir stick 34 to move in a generally lineardirection perpendicular to the rotation. This linear movement will movethe stir stick 34 into the corners 54 and at the walls 44, 46, 48, 50 ofthe ice container 28. However, other means of providing linear movement(gyration/oscillation) to the stir stick 34 are contemplated.Furthermore, a speed reducing gear train may be used with the motor 56to provide multiple rotations of the stir stick 34 while in the corner54 of the container 28. Thus, the gear train would create a fasterrotation of the stir stick 34 as compared to the rotation of the cam 60,which would provide more oscillation for the stir stick 34 in thecorners.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the ice container 28 of FIGS. 3 and 4,with the upper portion 30 of the container 28 generally removed. FIG. 5shows some of the components of the present invention. For example, FIG.5 shows the stir stick aperture 61 of the cam 60, and also the motorshaft aperture 63 of the cam 60. As noted above, the motor shaftaperture 63 allows the cam 60 to be attached to the motor shaft 58 ofthe motor 56. The stir stick aperture 61 provides for a connection pointfor the bottom portion 38 of the stir stick 34. FIG. 5 does not show thegears, as discussed above, which can provide rotation from the motorshaft 58 to the stir stick 34 to provide the rotation of the stir stick34 about the stir stick axis 62. As discussed above, the configurationof the cam 60, including stir stick and motor apertures 61, 63 may bedifferent than that shown in FIG. 5, with the configurations dependentupon the shape of the ice container, shape of the stir stick 34, amountof movement required or desired for the stir stick, and the like. Thus,the present invention should not be limited by the exact configurationof the stir stick and cam shown in the Figures, and is intended toinclude generally any configuration of stir stick, cam, and motor thatwould provide for rotation and gyration or oscillation of the stir stickwithin the ice container.

To break ice clumps and to prevent freeze up of ice in the ice container28, the location of the ice container 28 and ice making system 24 shouldbe determined. Thus, the location of the ice making system 24 maydetermine the shape of the ice container 28. As noted above, the shapeof the ice container shall be such that the least amount of useablespace within the refrigerator 10 is used by the ice container. Once theshape of the ice container 28, and more particularly the upper portion30 of the ice container 28, has been determined, the shape 34 of thestir stick should be determined. The shape of the stir stick 34 will bedetermined on the shape of the ice container, such that the bends 36 ofthe stir stick 34 shall reach as great amount of area within the icecontainer as possible. Next, the number and configuration of cam(s) 60should be determined to work with the stir stick 34 to provide therotation and gyration of the stir stick 34 to reach the full amount ofarea within the ice container 28. Thus, the configuration of camapertures, shape of cam, and number of cams should be determined. Next,it should be determined whether to include a gear system within themotor 56, cam 60, and stir stick 34 to provide additional rotation forthe stir stick 34. Once these factors have been determined, the icecontainer can be assembled. The ice container assembly 28 should betested to ensure that the motor, gears, cams, and stir stick providemovement to the stir stick such that the stir stick is able to reachinto the corners 54 of the ice container. Therefore, the stir stickshould be rotated within the ice container while also being oscillatedor gyrated to extend the stir stick, including the bends of the stirstick to reach the full area within the ice container.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, and is not intended to be an exhaustivelist or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It iscontemplated that other alternative processes obvious to those skilledin the art are considered to be included in the invention. Thedescription is merely examples of embodiments. For example, the shape ofthe stir stick 34 may be varied depending on the shape of the icecontainer. Furthermore, the location of the motor, stir stick, cams,apertures, and the like may also be varied according to the size andshape of the ice container. In addition, the number of cams andconfigurations of cams may be varied to provide the stir stick with thegreatest amount of movement within the ice container. It should beappreciated that the configuration of the stir stick, cams, gears, andmotor within the ice container as described above are but one possibleconfiguration for providing oscillation, gyration, and rotation of thestir stick within the ice container. It is understood that many othermodifications, substitutions, and/or additions may be made, which arewithin the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From theforegoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes atleast all of the stated objections.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet; a door forproviding access to within the cabinet; an ice maker for making iceoperably connected to the cabinet; an ice container positioned adjacentthe ice maker; and a stir stick positioned within the ice container, thestir stick configured to oscillate while rotating in a directiongenerally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick. 2.The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the stir stick comprises a rod. 3.The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the rod is bent along its length toprotrude outwardly from the axis of the rod.
 4. The refrigerator ofclaim 1 wherein the stir stick is positioned at the center of the icecontainer.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice container isrectangular-shaped.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the stirstick includes a generally vertical portion at a bottom wall of the icecontainer.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6 wherein the stir stick rotatesabout the generally vertical portion of the stir stick.
 8. Therefrigerator of claim 7 wherein the generally vertical portion of thestir stick extends through an aperture in the bottom wall of the icecontainer.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a motorpositioned under the bottom wall of the ice container.
 10. Therefrigerator of claim 9 wherein the stir stick is operably connected tothe motor such that the motor rotates and oscillates the stir stick. 11.The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the stir stickis configured to extend into a corner of the ice container while thestir stick rotates and oscillates.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 1wherein the stir stick is configured to reach the full area of the icecontainer to stop freeze-up of ice cubes in the ice container.
 13. Anice making system, comprising: an ice maker; an ice container adjacentthe ice maker, the ice container comprising first, second, third, andfourth walls; and a stir stick positioned within the ice container, thestir stick configured to rotate while oscillating in a directiongenerally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick. 14.The ice making system of claim 13 further comprising a bottom memberadjacent the ice container.
 15. The ice making system of claim 14wherein the stir stick is operably connected to the bottom member. 16.The ice making system of claim 15 further comprising a motor positionedwithin the bottom member and operably connected to the stir stick toprovide rotation and oscillation to the stir stick.
 17. The ice makingsystem of claim 16 wherein the stir stick comprises a plurality of bendsalong its length.
 18. The ice making system of claim 17 wherein at leastone of the plurality of bends of the stir stick is configured to extendinto a corner of the ice container as the stir stick rotates andoscillates.
 19. The ice making system of claim 18 wherein the stir stickcomprises a generally vertical portion extending into the bottom member.20. A method of breaking ice clumps and preventing freeze-up of ice inan ice container, comprising: providing an ice container including astir stick operably connected to the ice container, the stir stickextending within the ice container and comprising a plurality of bendsalong its length; rotating the stir stick within the ice container; andoscillating or gyrating the stir stick while rotating to extend thebends of the stir stick to reach the full area within the ice container.